Portret van Sebastianus Curtius

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Portrait of Sebastianus Curtius** (1652) is a delicate collaborative engraving by German printmakers Paul Creutzberger and Georguch. Created during the Baroque era, this small-scale portrait captures the of Sebastianus Curtius likely a notable figure of the time—perhaps a scholar or patron—reflecting the era's fascination with intimate, detailed likenesses. Such works were in 17th-century Europe, where portrait prints served as affordable mementos for collectors and disseminated images of the elite across social circles. Executed on paper and measuring just113 × 63 mm, the piece exemplifies the precision of copperplate engraving, a technique Strauch and Creutzberger mastered for fine lines and subtle shading. This compact format made it ideal for albums or personal cabinets of curiosities, highlighting the technical virtuosity of printmaking amid the Dutch Golden Age's influence on Northern European art. Verso, it bears the stamped collector's mark Lugt 2228, linking it to esteemed historical collections and underscoring its enduring value in museum holdings. Today, this gem invites us to appreciate how modest prints preserved legacies with remarkable artistry.